Hey,
We also heard our bishop speak this Sunday. He began to speak about how a mission can change someone´s life. It was great-I love hearing about the effects that peoples´ missions have had on them, and the blessings that they have received because of them. It was especially nice because we were seated next to two youth that were baptized with E. Beeston and E. Mooney (yes, he knows the area). They´re part of the family of four that came into the Church about a month ago. They´re super excited--19 and 17, and the 19 year old asked us this week what he has to do before he can start giving talks in Church. Awesome converts.
Yeah, Obregón is cool. Unfortunately it doesn´t have a Costco, just a Sam´s Club, but it´s right next to the Wal-Mart, about 8 minutes away from our house walking. Unfortunately the membership costs 50 bucks and I won´t be going to Sam´s after the mission. But I still miss the bikes, though. We´re a lot more tired when walking.
Oh, and E. Roberts got sent to Caborca--E. Beeston arrived in his place in Hermosillo. We´re all going to Hermosillo next week for Concilio, so we all get to see each other from time to time.
This is called a "venado." It literally means deer in Spanish, but "la danza del venado" is a dance that the native Yaqui tribe performs. They take a deer´s head and put it on their own--I´ve never seen it performed, but it´s part of the native culture of Sonora. The Yaquis were a fierce Indian tribe, and was the only one that never surrendered to the Mexican Government. They just stayed on their lands and there are still Yaqui reservations throughout Sonora. Obregón is the city that most took over their native culture (it´s more than just commerical, but I can´t exactly describe the way they´ve assimilated it into their daily lives), calling their baseball team the Yaquis, and making these types of statues that are found throughout the city. Learn more on Wikipedia. Everything I´ve learned about them is just from listening to members.
E. Flores and E. Hardison baptized a man that had been listening to the missionaries off and on for 20 years. He finally made the decision, and there was even a returned sister missionary that taught him 5 years ago that came to speak in his baptismal service. Awesome.
One experience from this week. The elders from the Haciendas area gave us a referral, and we went to check it out on Wednesday. We arrived to the house and there was an older lady there--she said she wanted us to talk to her son. He´s middle aged, and is addicted to hard drugs. We sat down to teach him, and he started describing his desires to change. I´ve taught drug addicts before, but he was going through a lot of withdrawal symptoms. Scraggly beard, dirty clothing, constantly scratching his arms because of his anxiety. He said he had listened to the missionaries before, but had never had the desire to truly change like he had now. E. Mooney had taught people like that before in Sonoyta (he was there for 8 months, and it is one of the must drug-dealer ridden towns in the entire state), and I had done so as well in my other areas. But almost every time the same thing happens--the addiction takes over after a few days and they are no longer in the right state of mind to listen. But even though he looked pretty addicted, he did have the desire. We talked a little about repentance and prayer the first visit, and came back 2 days later. The change was amazing. He had shaved, clean clothing, and instead of constantly rubbing his arms, he was calmed with just dry washing his hands. His eyes were different as well. The difference is quick when the right principles are applied correctly.
Hope everyone is doing well at home. Adios
Elder Humbert
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